Growing Your Troop: Inviting and Welcoming New Members

1. Share a Link to Your Troop Catalog Listing
   • If your troop is in the online troop catalog, you can copy a link of your troop’s catalog listing and share it with your networks. To get your troop link, simply search “Troop #####” in the Troop Number search field. Then hover over the green box with the arrow at the top of the tile and click “Copy Link.”
2. Share Customized Troop Flyers
   • Customized Troop Flyers and can be a great way to get the word out about your troop. Flyers can be shared at schools, community centers, libraries, and more. Troop leaders can either print your own at home or log in to the Impressive Online Print Center to get them mailed directly to your home at no cost.
     • Note: Please allow one week for your order to be processed and mailed.
   • If you want to order troop flyers, create a new account by selecting “click here to register” at the sign-in screen. Allow up to three business days for approval of new accounts. Navigate to the troop leader folder and complete your order. For further instructions, view our Online Print Center Training Video or download the Online Print Center Training Guide.
3. Use Email and Social Media
   • Are there parents and friends in your network whose child would benefit from being in your troop? Let them know you have openings in your troop by sharing this sample post on social media. Don’t forget to include a link to your troop listing!
   • You can also use this easy-to-personalize email template to promote open spots in your troop directly to families in your community.
4. Use the “Invite Friends” Feature
   • If you already know the email addresses of families who would like to join your troop, you can send them a personalized invite with a link to register into your troop from your My Account page. To do this, navigate to your troop roster under your My Troop(s) tab, and click the “Invite friends to join your troop” link at the bottom of the page.
5. Host a “Bring a Friend” Day
   • Share your Girl Scout community by hosting a “Bring a Friend” day! Customize invite slips to encourage everyone in the troop to bring someone who isn’t a member. Then host an event showing off all the fun things that Girl Scouts do, and don’t forget to ask them to become a permanent member of the troop.
   • This is a day to show off your favorite Girl Scout activities. This might include: creating a build-your-own trail mix bar, having a Girl Scout scavenger hunt, testing your engineering skills by designing paper rockets or pencil catapults, completing a community service activity, or making yummy s’mores.

Adult volunteers play an important role in making sure your troop gets to achieve the big dreams they have planned! Most troops have a co-leader (or two!) who helps share responsibilities like planning meetings, working with finances, and communicating with families. Here are some resources to help you find a Co-Leader for your troop:

1. Post on Social Media
   • Use your social network to share a rewarding volunteer opportunity. You never know who might be looking to join you. See adult sample social posts.
2. Ask your families at the First Family Meeting
   • Asking parents and caregivers to help lead at your First Troop Family Meeting. Additionally, extended family members or friends who want to help lead can also be a great resource. They bring a variety of skills and interests, plus, they are already invested in helping their child!

Girls Scouts in an inclusive organization that welcomes everyone to be a part of the fun! You and your troop will want to make sure that any new troop member feels welcome and included—Here are some inviting ideas:

1. Create a Welcome Letter
   • Have the troop write, decorate, and sign a welcome letter. They can even write personal messages for new Girl Scouts.
2. Start With an Icebreaker
   • Check out our In the Loop post Break the Ice: Four Fun Activities to Engage Girls for ideas on how to kick off your new Girl Scout’s first troop meeting.
3. Assign the New Girl Scout a Buddy
   • Prior to the first meeting, assign the new troop member a ‘Buddy’ to help answer any questions and put them at ease throughout the first few meetings. They can sit next to each other during activities and teach how the troop operates. It also gives the “Buddy” a chance to practice their leadership skills.
4. Teach a Tradition
   • Girl Scouts has lots of great traditions—They’re what makes us feel connected to each other. When you have a new Girl Scout, take the time to teach them the Girl Scout Promise and Law or sing along to Make New Friends. Including them in traditions will build up their confidence and help them feel like they’re part of the troop.